Gillard ‘double-crossed’ by Rajapakse over Games bid
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard was allegedly double crossed by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse over speeches made regarding their respective Commonwealth Games bid, at a sports breakfast at the sidelines of the 2011 CHOGM.
The breakfast, hosted by Gillard, was attended by senior officials from across the Commonwealth as well as members of the 71 Commonwealth Games associations will vote towards who will host the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Australia’s Gold Coast or Rajapakse’s hometown of Hambantota.
Both leaders had agreed, through the Commonwealth Games Federation, to make a “casual speech” and not to overtly promote their nation’s bid.
Ms Gillard welcomed everyone present and briefly mentioned that Australia would put on an “outstanding games” if given the opportunity.
Rajapakse, however, used his whole 10-minute speech to make a rigorous pitch for Sri Lanka saying that it “would be a life-changing event in our history."
See the report from the Sydney Morning Herald here.
The breakfast, hosted by Gillard, was attended by senior officials from across the Commonwealth as well as members of the 71 Commonwealth Games associations will vote towards who will host the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Australia’s Gold Coast or Rajapakse’s hometown of Hambantota.
Both leaders had agreed, through the Commonwealth Games Federation, to make a “casual speech” and not to overtly promote their nation’s bid.
Ms Gillard welcomed everyone present and briefly mentioned that Australia would put on an “outstanding games” if given the opportunity.
Rajapakse, however, used his whole 10-minute speech to make a rigorous pitch for Sri Lanka saying that it “would be a life-changing event in our history."
See the report from the Sydney Morning Herald here.
